Jazz on the Green

On Friday afternoon, I was teaching.  A friend (a fellow muso) rang, and because I was teaching, I didn't answer.  They rang again.  I didn't answer.  They rang again - and, because it's holidays and I'm not so diligent in checking my diary during the holidays, I had a horrible thought of "Have I said yes to a gig and they're expecting me to be somewhere but I'm not there because I'm at home? AGH!!!".  So I answered the phone.  Thankfully, my fear was unfounded.  Even better, the call was to tell me to come along to Jazz on the Green that evening. 

Well, this changed things.  I am a creature of habit - that's the whole point of this blog, after all.  I wanted to go for a run, which would mean I would be rather late to Jazz.  But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go to Jazz.  The weather was in cahoots, and didn't allow my exercise clothes to dry (yes, everything I own was on the line).  Jazz won. 

This is something that happens fairly regularly, I discovered.  Every Friday for a few months at a time, the little square of grass bordered by QPAC the Cultural Centre bus stop is an outdoor concert venue.  Very laid back, there are rugs and very low seats provided.  There are stalls for food and drink (the area is licensed).  It starts at 5 and goes until... sometime.  All sorts of people were there - corporate types just finishing work, parents with some very young kids, arty types, music students, I guess other students too.  Very inclusive. 

As for the actual jazz... I heard they were a band from the Con (which makes sense).  They were reasonable.  The keyboard was just a bit jangly for my ears though, and it was all very loud - the sort of loud where you have to wait for a song to finish if you want to communicate with your friends.  In the interlude, there was piped music of jazz from an earlier era.  This had us all bopping along and happy, and able to communicate with each other at the same time (with actual words, not shouting, no lipreading required).  The first song after the interlude was an original.  I'm very rarely in the mood for soppy love songs (with questionable lyrics), and when they hit the gratuitous (but seemingly standard now, unfortunately) key change, I was outta there. 

Especially as Friday is (normally) my day off, I can see this Jazz thing happening more frequently in my life.

The Consecration

This morning was the consecration of the new bishop for the Southern Region of the Diocese of Brisbane.  That's a bit of a mouthful.  Alison Taylor is also the first female bishop in this diocese.  Woohoo!  The last consecration I attended (Bishop John Parkes), I played the violin and sang as part of the choir.  (Long story).  It was a very special service.  For this consecration, I thought I was serving, but I was Dean's Verger instead (a role I much prefer).  If you're not familiar with the ways of cathedrals, the dean is the head of the chapter (so, like our priest-in-charge), and a verger is someone who carries a verge (big stick) and tells people where to go.  Or, to be more polite, escorts those who need escorting.  Which is usually just the readers.  Easy.

About 40 minutes before the service - already rather full

Being in a very different role from last time meant my focus was very different, too.  And my view was not as great - seeing a corner of the archbishop's mitre is just not that exciting.  It is exciting, though, being a part of a really large service, in which everyone there is an active part of the service.  Reciting the Nicene Creed as one of a handful of people, for example, is a whole different experience from reciting it as one of more than a thousand people. 

Other special things:  There were so many bishops - from this diocese, and retired bishops, and bishops from other regions - and they all laid hands on Alison.  One of my favourite hymns (St Patrick) was sung, with gusto.  I said hi to one of my Instagram followers (we've not met, but I worked out early on who he was, and he worked out last week who I am).  I saw clergy I rarely see, or haven't seen for some time.

Another joy of large services is the dismissal (of about 150 people) on the West End steps - followed by the media conferences.  Which gave me a chance to return the verge to its place, get my phone and take some photos.  Thank you, photographers!

Kitchen Art

This week has been rather domestic.  I've been trying to make my surroundings more Me and less It'll Do.  Monday morning, I started printing out lots of photos of my nieces and nephews, and finally finished that process Thursday morning.  I found a few more arty shots I wanted printed as well.  Two of these were 'kitchen-appropriate' - one, a pear just catching the afternoon light; the other, the remnants of a beetroot salad.  I also bought, several years ago now, a print from Ruby Victoria (find her blog here) at the Salamanca Markets.  It's been propped up against a wall ever since.  I took it along with me yesterday to find a frame.  And, yippee! - Myer is having a sale on frames.  Score.

Without taking massive shots of the whole kitchen, here are the basics:
The hand-cut teapot (Salamanca) is next to the main bench.

The pear is above the fruit bowl (couldn't resist a Hipstamatic photo of this!).

The remains of a salad are still homeless, but right now propped up next to the coffee machine area.

The dozens of nephew and niece photos are now strung up in the living area, and about to be stuck on a wall by the upper stairs.  They make me smile so much!

Lamb with Anchovies and Thyme

Holidays mean more time for cooking.  Easter means lamb.  Now, I'm not an anchovy enthusiast.  It's not just they're super salty - it's the hairiness that gets me.  However, I tend to trust cookbooks from reputable cooks.  So I took a deep breath, crossed my fingers, and hoped this was another of those 'you have to taste it' cases.  Thankfully, it was (thanks Nigella!).  Any more anchovy and it would have been too much, but this level was acceptable, adding more of a salty overtone rather than an "I'm eating anchovies" blast.

Ingredients:
1 x 15mL tablespoon olive oil (I just estimated, as per normal - next time I'll use less; and, should be garlic oil but I don't have any)
2 boneless lamb leg steaks (approx. 100g each)
4 anchovy fillets (conveniently, one small tin of Always Fresh)
leaves from a few sprigs fresh thyme, approx. 1 teaspoonful
1/4 cup rose wine (or, if you want to be true to Nigella, martini or cinzano rosato)

Method:
Warm the oil in a heavy-based, non-stick frying pan and fry the lamb for about 2 minutes per side, or until they are done to your liking.
Remove the steaks to a board lined with foil and turn up the ends so any meat juices that run out are contained.
Off the heat, add the anchovy fillets to the pan and stir until they start to break up and begin melting into the pan. (Warning: this made the oil spit a lot!  Which is why I'll use less oil next time).  Put it back on the heat and, still stirring, add the thyme leaves.
Add the wine/vermouth and let it bubble up in the pan, then pour in the juices that have collected from the lamb.  Place the steaks on a couple of plates.  Let the sauce continue boiling until it's thickened - 30 seconds should do it - and pour it over the waiting steaks.  Eat immediately and with gusto.  That is, after taking some shots with different Hipstamatic combinations...

Seriously quick and easy (apart from protecting yourself from spitting anchovy oil).  And the aroma from the thyme is just delicious.  I wilted a heap of baby spinach as a side - and followed it with some Easter egg.  As there was only one of me eating, I had leftovers the next day for lunch - but as a salad with greens and sliced pear.  Yum.

Hipstamatic

On Monday, I finally installed Hipstamatic.  (As a side note, this was the first app I've downloaded that isn't free).  As it was installing, a friend rang and was amazed I didn't already have it.  "It's such an Anna thing!" she said.  So true. 

Hipstamatic came about partly because I love photographic things, and partly because a good friend (also into photographic things) is a big fan of Hipstamatic.  Not just a big fan, but really good at it.  And several times recently we'd be talking and something would be mentioned about it... And I'd see some photos with different films...  And I really really wanted to be able to do those things myself.  Plus, one of the people I follow on Instagram shares her Hipstamatic photos there (not such a fan of that, actually, but the photos themselves are rather delicious).  On Monday, then, after finishing lunch, I couldn't not install this app.  And then I started playing with it.  Oh the delight! 

After many Hipstamatic discussions with this particular friend, I knew that I would need some time to get to know the product.  Holidays are perfect.  Monday afternoon, I spent about an hour taking selfies, switching films and lenses and flashes.  I then put this photo up on Facebook.

Unfortunately, most people seemed to think I'd coloured my hair.  Not so.  I haven't even put on lots of yellow makeup. 

I'm taking a few photos a day, delighting in the different effects of the combinations.  One lens I had put to the bottom of my preferred pile, but was being fair in taking the same shot with different options - and it looked fabulous!  It has redeemed itself.

The other perk (maybe) is the developing time.  None of this digital-age instant photo stuff.  Sometimes, I get impatient and just want to see it now.  But other times, I feel like I'm a teenager again, pressing a button and then not seeing the finished product for some time.  This photo I just took, then didn't look at it until a few hours later - I love surprises.

Of course, this means I will become even more annoying, not just taking photos, but taking a photo, then checking the effect, then changing lens or flash and taking another photo...  (Must remain socially aware...  Must remain socially aware..)

Movie #34 - Star Wars Episode VI

Again, not anywhere 3 years after watching Episode V, I was able to watch Episode VI.  Lucky me!  In fact, straight after watching Episode V we started on Episode VI... But not the whole thing.  It turned out we watched maybe a third of it though.  For the proper showing of Episode VI I asked to go back to the start of the movie - my brain works better with completes.  Like the other two, I'm assuming everyone reading has either seen it, or has a really good idea of what happens.  So, some points:

The big 'reveal' stunned me.  Simpsons, you have failed me!  I had no idea about the familial relationship (no, I'm not going to give it away for any 'under-the-rock' people like myself).  My jaw dropped.  Of course it makes sense, but still!  Plus, getting to meet more well-known characters (while saying goodbye to some) helped the Star Wars experience feel more complete. 

The music was, again, fabulous.  This time as we watched we were pointing out sources, which included Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev and Stravinsky.  Excellent stuff.  (Yes, I like the Russians).

I do like the variety of settings.  So few movies these days involve such scope, tending to sit in one city, or a city and countryside.  None of this multiple planets thing.  From a reviewer's point of view, this makes it a little more awkward in remembering just how we got from one planet to the next.  Yes, I was trying to be more sociable in these viewings, not pausing the movie to write down any notes. 

The whole Jabba bit had me giggling.  And a bit horrified, but mostly giggling.  Jabba is such a cliche of a pimp!  Big and lazy and overtly wealthy and powerful.  Minions who are well-trained and willing to do his bidding.  Constantly shifting boundaries - what he wants, what is acceptable, how much he will allow.  And, of course, the stereotype of having a sex slave.  This is when I finally realised why all these boys are so in love with Princess Leia.  At first I thought it must be because of her apparent absence of any undergarments (in Episode IV).  But the harem/bikini thing certainly cleared up that little mystery.   And, I guess, as she's practically the only female and quite gorgeous and willing to do her bit, that would help too. 

Princess Leia's hair is stunning.  This has been quite a theme - and one that started long before I ever saw a Star Wars movie.  If the plot ever tires, I start working out just how those hairstyles are done.  It's not as complicated in this episode, but the first 2...  I admit - this is partly from a long-standing fascination with hairstyles on my part, and partly from my rocking the Princess Leia/German milkmaid look as a 5-yr-old.  I remember tantrums... (Sorry mum.  You did a great job!).

Again, it's fun spotting all the sources of future popular culture references.  This one was huge though!  Such a big portion of it was practically The Incredibles.  Love it.  A few others were apparent, too, but that was so, so obvious.  It's like The Incredibles have wondered, "What's a great adventure movie" and come up with this one.  They haven't even tried to be discreet - similar uniforms for the guards, the entrance to the place, the forest, the ride through the trees (so exciting!) - it's all there! 

I have a feeling the next I'll see is Episode II.  I've seen a review (very entertaining!) of Episode I, and it doesn't inspire me.  So I'll be doing 'machete order' - 4, 5, 6, 2, 3, 1. 

In Retrospect - Fifth Quarter

I feel that I have been rather different this quarter compared to this time last year.  Or any quarter last year, in fact.  When compiling a list earlier today though, I was a bit stumped.  I'd been meaning to compile this list on the go... Hopefully, I'll be better at that in the next 3 months.

New Year Resolutions.  I'll admit it - I'm not doing fabulously well on this front.  My running goal is just not happening.  However, I'm hoping the holidays, as well as the proximity of my next running event, will get that going again.  The other goals are doing moderately well (see below).

Food.  Apart from the Easter eggs, I'm doing really well with the No Pre-made Chocolate thing.  Giving up sugar for Lent possibly helped, but I didn't really crave a block of chocolate.  Making my own - and knowing exactly what went into it - satisfied any chocolate urges I had.  Okay, not 'any' but 'all of the'.  I haven't made as many new recipes as I would have liked, but the recent dip into a recipe book has rekindled that little flame.  (Looking forward to dinner tonight!).

Students.  I have been much better at communication with parents this year.  I used to let things slide, and intend to contact a parent about something but then not get around to it.  Sometimes this doesn't really matter, but sometimes it does.  This year, I have been good.  I didn't realise just how good until I was sending out next term's invoices (on time - go me!).  Except for a boarder, whose parents live overseas, I had made email contact with every parent during the term.  I've sent photos of posture, music, recordings, checked lesson times, rescheduled when I've realised before the parents have informed me that their child will be unavailable during their lesson time, and organised music exams.  So now I'm feeling on top of things, as well as rather virtuous.

Outfits.  Amazingly, these are still going.  I have started slipping in slightly more daring pattern mixing without being howled down by the 8-12-yr-old Fashion Police.  The bigger change (in my head, anyway) has been to pick a theme for the week.  The last week of term was 'pattern'; the week before that, floral; and 2 weeks before that, stripes.  I have a few more ideas, but feel free to pitch your idea to me!

Trivia.  Not every week - but many weeks - I've been part of a team for trivia at a local pub.  So much fun.  We normally do fairly poorly - but we have had some good bits too.  Like when the last round theme was 'vegetables'.  So, kale is European, but I got every other answer.  And I'm reasonable at working out the Who Am I (always someone born on that day).

Movies.  After the dodgy experience (Bulletproof Monk), I've been unenthusiastic about watching more movies.  Except for Star Wars, that is.  Episodes IV, V, and VI (review pending) have been very much enjoyed.  Now that holidays are on, I'm feeling like my brain can absorb some more though.

Breakfast.  Except for the mornings with eggs, or with parents (eating the former, eating with the latter), breakfast is now in bed.  I love it.  I get the fan during hotter weather, and the snuggliness during cooler weather.  And Wednesdays are now smoothie mornings as they're also gym mornings.  I'm loving this new schedule.

Photography.  I'm still enjoying Instagram.  I only rarely share them on Facebook, preferring to see them as different bits of my life (mostly).  However, I started taking more and more photos of the cathedral.  As I'm one of the cathedral Facebook page administrators, I decided to share my photos of the cathedral through that medium.  I'm pleased to see they are 'seen' by hundreds of people, and they get so many 'likes' I am quite chuffed.  This is my favourite - looking up in the northwest are of the Narthex.

New Places in Brisbane.  This is something I am so glad I started, and wish I had started long ago.  Although I am a little embarrassed there are so many parts of Brisbane I haven't seen yet, just taking a couple of hours to visit somewhere new is such a good thing for me.  I can tick a few more places off my list, take photos of different aspects of Brisbane, and enjoy some time out in the process.  Big win.

Music.  This has been such a full-on term.  Such a fabulously full-on term.  On Australia Day, there were 6 of us - a non-muso, and 5 string players.  We realised we were a quintet, so had a quintet night.  As we were playing, I was thinking "It would be so nice if we performed this" - then someone else said what I was thinking, so now we're doing a concert.  We're also doing a quartet, so this is a whole lot of Schubert.  A whole lot of fabulous Schubert.  And a whole lot of rehearsing.  I'm loving it. 

After so much socialising though, I am needing to hibernate for a bit.  And to practise.  And weed my garden.  I should emerge in a couple of days.